8 July 2021
Delectable produce, exquisite flavours and gastronomic menus are synonymous with luxury cruises where an unparalleled variety of cuisine is readily available 24/7
On almost all cruise ships, food is included in the ticket price and this adds to the stress-free decadence of the dining experience. Food is plentiful, and easily (read: always) available with themed restaurants, casual diners, buffets and formal dining all there to be enjoyed. The accessibility, scale and variety of food ensures there is something for every passenger, from the vegan snacker and the carnivore traditionalist to the faddy toddler, big eater and gourmands. Some cruise ship dining remains an elegant affair taking place three meals a day plus an option for an afternoon snack served during tea time - though this is rare now. The trend now is to allow diners to dine whenever they want, from basic meal service all the way up to luxury specialty dining experiences.
When dining in the Main Restaurant, there are usually two dinner seatings each evening: at 6 pm and 8/8:30 pm. Most Main Restaurants offer a range of traditional American and Continental dishes served in a large, banquet-style room.
Less formal dining venues serve casual fare and this usually a buffet, pizzeria, poolside grill or even a New York style hot dog cart.
Complimentary room service is becoming more common although some cruise ships charge $3.95 per room service order delivered between midnight and 5 am.
The addition of speciality restaurants is a new trend in cruise dining and generally provides superior service in showcase decor. Examples include Carnival's steakhouses, Holland America's Pinnacle Grill, Princess' Share, Crown Grill and Sabatini's, and Disney's Remy and Palo.
Open seating has been a feature of the cruise scene for decades though some are now offering assigned seating too. Cruise lines that offer open seating in the main dining room include Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Hurtigruten, Norwegian, Oceania, Paul Gauguin, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, SeaDream, Star Clippers, Uniworld, Viking, Windstar and the luxury lines. Breakfast and lunch are usually open seating. Note that several of the cruise lines listed above — Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean — offer both assigned seating and open seating.
Only formal dining requires the decorum and dress standards of bygone Cruises, all other food options can be enjoyed casual clothing. Traditionally, cruise lines set aside one evening on a 7-night cruise for a formal night, when cocktail dresses and evening wear are expected. On lines such as Princess, Cunard, Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea, men tend to wear tuxedoes on formal night with women in glamorous dresses of silk, sequins and shimmer.
Dining Options
- Sit-down meals served by wait staff in the main dining room
- Serve yourself buffet
- Formal dining, often on one night of the cruise on many ships
- 24-hour dining venue
- Room service
- Poolside grill
- Outdoor dining at night around the pool deck
- Balcony dining
- Special dining with the chef events & wine-pairing events
- Rotational dining, where the room literally moves, as on Disney Cruise Line
- Coffee bar (with cakes and pastries)
Typically, alcoholic drinks are not included in the cruise fare, though there may be exceptions to this on special party nights when a signature welcome cocktail is served.
